Dermal Fillers and Vaccine Reactions: How to Prepare Patients for the Rare Possibility

by Jennifer Fink •

More Efficient Interventions

The ASDS treatment guidance notes that the current recommendations depend on “observational studies of low certainty” and that “comparative studies of different management protocols would be invaluable but may be impractical because of the relatively small number of cases per institution. Therefore, prospective patient registries and multicenter collaborations are needed.” 

Inform patients that filler/vaccine reactions can occur years after filler injection and encourage them to report all unusual reactions after vaccination, even if their facial swelling, for instance, is mild and unlikely to require medical treatment. Report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), and consider reporting cutaneous reactions to COVID-19 vaccination to the American Academy of Dermatology Association’s COVID-19 Dermatology Registry.   

“Documentation of these reactions is really important,” Dr. Kontis said. “With this data, hopefully we can help more patients in the future.”

Jennifer Fink is a freelance medical writer based in Wisconsin.

Patient Info: Dermal Fillers and Vaccines

As COVID-19 vaccination continues and boosters are being considered, it’s vital to share information with any patients who have had or are considering dermal fillers. These are the most important tips to pass along:

  • Filler material can persist in the face for eight years or longer. “A distant history of filler injection is still relevant,” said L. Mike Nayak, MD, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Missouri.
  • Having fillers is not a contraindication to vaccination. “All patients with dermal fillers are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Theda Kontis, MD, an associate professor in the departments of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
  • Wait between fillers and vaccination. “Ideally, one should wait at least a few weeks between vaccination and filler placement,” said Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School.
  • Report any reactions. “Call your physician and seek medical care if any unusual reactions occur around the time of vaccination,” said Dr. Kourosh.